Test Results - Large Format photographic lenses

Kerry Thalmann and I tested the lenses found in thetable below. The emphasis is on compact portable lenses for usein the field. Comments regarding these tests follow thetable. More information can be found at the links provided aboveand below. This has been a long project and I hope people findmerit in being able to review this information on-line.You can use the following to 'jump' to the desiredsection of this test page.

Please note: Take care in comparing lenses.Some were tested from f/11 to f/22, while others were tested from f/16to f/32, and still others from f/18 to f/32.

65mm thru 90mm

Manufacturer

Model

Length

Fstop/cnt/mdl/edge

Weight

Shutter

Serial number

Age

Rodenstock

APO Grandigon

55mm

f/11 54 38 48

f/16 76 48 42

f/22 54 54 42

355g

Copal 0

115292xx

2000's

Schneider

Super Angulon f/8

65mm

f/11 2623 21

f/16 42 30 26

f/22 37 37 30

.

Compur00

.

1950's

Schneider

Super Angulon f/5.6

65mm

f/11 67 60 38

f/16 6760 42

f/22 4848 42

325g

Copal 0

14,379,xxx

1990's

Horseman

Super ER f/5.6

75mm

f/11 64 54 34

f/16 60 54 34

f/22 54 60 38

150g

Seiko-SLV

12xxxx

1980's

Nikon

SW f/4.5

75mm

f/11 4230 18

f/16 60 54 19

f/22 60 48 30

435g

Copal 0

661xxx

1980's

Rodenstock

Grandagon-N f/6.8

75mm

f/11 67 60 42

f/16 6060 24

f/22 5454 38

.

Copal 0

1133xxxx

1990's

Schneider

Super Angulon f/8

75mm

f/11 67 54 24

f/16 6054 38

f/22 5448 38

415g

Compur 0

985xxxx

1966

Ziess

Dagor f/9

7.5cm

f/11 60 34 17

f/16 54 42 19

f/22 48 42 21

65g (true!)

.

265xxxx

?

Schneider

Super Symmar XL f/4.5

80mm

f/11 76 42 34

f/16 76 42 42

f/22 60 48 42

270g

Copal 0

1477xxxx

2000

Schneider

Super Symmar XL f/4.5

80mm

f/11 48 54 38

f/16 6754 48

f/22 6054 54

270g

Copal 0

1479xxxx

2000

Schneider

- too soft to focus

- returned to factory

Super Symmar XL f/4.5

80mm

f/11 42 30 18

f/16 60 60 42

f/22 60 60 48

270g

Copal 0

147xxxxx

2000

Congo

WideField f/6.3

90mm

f/16 6738 24

f/22 60 42 24

f/32 48 42 38 f/11 42 30 22

f/16 60 54 38

f/22 54 54 33

145g

Copal 0

301xx5

1990's

Congo

WideField f/6.3

90mm

f/11 6032 18

f/16 60 42 19

f/22 60 54 21

145g

Copal 0

302xx4

1990's

Congo

WideField f/6.3

90mm

f/11 4238 38

f/16 60 67 54

f/22 60 54 42

145g

Copal 0

301xx9

1990's

Komura

- elements beginning

to separate

f/6.3

90mm

f/11 2626 24

f/16 33 30 26

f/22 54 42 26

???

Copal 0

???

???

Nikon

SW f/8

90mm

f/11 8080 60

f/16 67 67 60

f/22 60 54 54

355g

Copal 0

693xxx

1980's

Schneider

Angulon f/6.8

90mm

f/11 60 54 19

f/16 60 60 21

f/22 54 54 42

150g

Synchro-Compur #0

9733xxx

1966

Schneider

Angulon f/6.8

90mm

f/11 48 54 48

f/16 60/54/48

f/22 42 48 48

.

Copal 0

768xxx7

1960's

Schneider

Angulon f/6.8

90mm

f/16 6760 21

f/22 60 54 38

f/32 42 42 27

120g

.

419xxxx

1950's

Schneider

Angulon f/6.8

90mm

f/16 6754 48

f/22 67 67 42

f/32 42 38 30

125g

.

246xxxx

1950's

Schneider

Angulon f/6.8

90mm

f/11 5442 32

f/16 60 54 32

f/22 60 60 42

125g

.

537xxxx

1950's

Schneider

Angulon f/6.8

90mm

f/11 7635 38

f/16 61 38 38

f/22 61 68 61

145g

.

891xxxx

1960's

Schneider

Angulon f/6.8

90mm

f/16 1315 12

f/22 11 13 12

f/32 30 30 21

120g

.

360xxxx

1950's

Schneider

Super Angulon f/8

90mm

f/11 6767 17

f/16 60 54 21

370g

Copal 0

118xxxx0

1980's

Graphlex

WA Optar f/6.8

90mm

f/11 5432 15

f/16 54 42 24

f/22 54 44 18

140g

Rapax

903xxxx

1960's

Wollensak

WA Raptar f/6.3

3 1/2"

f/16 6042 24

f/22 60 54 24

f/32 42 42 30

135g

Rapax

907xxx

1960's

100mm thru 163mm

GoerzZeiss Dagor

f/9

100mm

f/11 54 42 19

f/16 54 54 21

f/22 48 54 30

.

.

.

.

Kodak

WF Ektar f/6.3

100mm

f/16 67 60 30

f/22 60 6030

f/32 48 42 30

175g

Supermatic

RYxxx

1950's

Kodak

Ektar f/3.7

- this is really a 6x9

format lens, but is

included here because

I tested it using a 4x5

camera

105mm

f/5.6 68 54 19

f/8 68 42 42

f/11 85 68 48

f/16 76 68 60

f/22 60 60 54

.

Supermatic

ES5xx

1940's

Wollensak

WA Raptar

f/6.3

108mm

f/6.3 2616 11

f/22 60 42 30

190g

Rapax

815xxx

1960's

Schneider

Super Symmar XLf/5.6

110mm

f/11 8067 60

f/16 67 67 67

f/22 60 60 60

430g

Copal 1

1416xxxx

1990's

Schneider

SuperSymmar XL f/5.6

110mm

f/1124 38 42

f/16 42 48 42

f/22 54 48 42

430g

Copal1

1485xxxx

1990's

Schneider

Super Symmar XL f/5.6

110mm

f/11 76 76 54

f/16 54 6848

f/22 60 60 54

430g

Copal 1

14713xxx

1990's

Goerz

WA Dagor f/8

4 3/8"

f/11 6060 24

f/16 60 60 18

f/22 54 54 18

.

.

803xxx

1960's

Bosch&Lomb

Series 5Protar f/18

113mm

f/18 5454 23

f/22 54 60 30

f/32 42 48 38

125g

Copal 0

TS24xx

19x0's

Caltar

II-N

115mm

f/1168 60 42

f/16 54 48 42

f/22 54 48 42

715g

Copal1

10682xxx

1980's?

Congo

WideAngle f/6.3

120mm

f/11 4242 30

f/16 42 42 32

f/22 44 44 32

145g

Copal 0

302xxx

1990's

Congo

WideAngle f/6.3

120mm

f/11 3230 18

f/16 38 30 19

f/22 60 42 24

145g

Copal 0

301xxx

1990's

Schneider

SuperSymmar HM f/5.6

120mm

f/11 4242 24

f/16 80 80 60

f/22 67 60 42

390g

Copal 0

142xxxxx

1980's

Schneider

APOSymmar f/5.6

120mm

f/1154 54 48

f/16 76 54 54

f/22 60 54 48

190g

Copal0

1462xxxx

1990's

Schneider

APO Symmar f/5.6

120mm

f/11 6767 38

f/16 64 64 54

f/22 60 60 42

190g

Copal 0

143xxxxx

1980's

Fuji

CM-W f/5.6

125mm

f/11 4233 38

f/16 60 54 54

f/22 60 60 54

.

Copal 0

75xxx3

1990's

Goerz

Carl ZiessJena f/9

12.5cm

f/16 60

67 38

f/22 54 54 48

f/32 48 48 42

155g

Copal 0

124xxxx

19x0's

Fuji

Fujinon-W/EBC f/5.6

135mm

f/11 76 76 48

f/16 68 68 48

f/22 54 60 54

230g

Copal #0

542xxx

1980's

Fuji

Fujinon-W f/5.6

135mm

f/11 21 30 60

f/16 33 42 54

f/22 48 54 54

230g

Copal #0

542xxx

1980's

Graphlex

Optar f/4.7

135mm

f/11 4242 33

f/16 54 48 38

f/22 42 42 42

195g

Rapax

G2xxx1

1950's

Kodak

WF Ektar f/6.3

135mm

f/11 76 53 35

f/16 76 6744

f/22 63 63 54

290g

Supermatic

RExxx

1950's

Kodak

WF Ektar f/6.3

135mm

f/11 4242 24

f/16 48 38 24

f/22 67 54 42

290g

Supermatic

EEIxxxx

1960's???

Nikon

W f/5.6

135mm

f/11 4838 15

f/16 67 42 21

f/22 60 54 38

210g

Copal 0

722xxx

1980's

Nikon

W f/5.6

135mm

f/11 2721 19

f/16 60 42 15

f/22 54 54 30

210g

Copal 0

710xxx

1980's

Rodenstock

Sironar N f/5.6

135mm

f/11 4848 24

f/16 54 54 54

f/22 60 54 54

185g

Copal 0

109xxxx2

1980's

Rodenstock

APO Sironar N f/5.6

135mm

f/11 38 42 30

f/16 54 60 54

f/22 48 48 48

170g

Copal 0

11369xxx

1990's

Rodenstock

APO Sironar S f/5.6

135mm

f/11 3842 42

f/16 58 58 38

f/22 64 64 59

215g

Copal 0

112xxxxx

1990's

Schneider

Linhof Xenotar f/3.5

135mm

f/11 42 38 42

f/16 60 6054

f/22 54 54 54

375g

Synchro-Compur #1

10,959,xxx

1968

Fuji

NSW f/5.6

150mm

f/11 68 76 68

f/16 68 76 68

f/22 60 60 60

.

Copal 0

.

1980's

Fuji

W f/6.3

150mm

f/11 60 60 48

f/16 48 6054

f/22 54 60 54

140g

Seiko #0

130xxx

1970's

Fuji

W f/6.3

150mm

f/11 6060 48

f/16 48 60 54

f/22 54 60 54

140g

Copal 0

130xx8

1970's

Fuji

WS f/6.3

150mm

f/11 6067 48

f/16 60 67 48

f/22 60 60 54

140g

Copal 0

121xx9

1970's

Goerz

WA Gold Ring

f/8

6 1/2"

f/11 2124 21

f/16 38 54 48

f/22 48 48 48

.

Ilex

786xx8

1960's

Kowa

Graphic f/9

150mm

f/11 7676 48

f/16 67 67 67

f/22 42 60 60

260g

Copal 0

12xx2

1980's

Rodenstock

Geronar

150mm

f/1160 38 24

f/16 76 48 34

f/22 48 54 48

145g

Copal0

10424xxx

1980's?

Rodenstock

APO Sironar(W) f/5.6

150mm

f/16 68 68 42

f/22 54 60 54

???

Copal 1

10886xxx

1990's

Rodenstock

APOSironar S f/5.6

150mm

f/1154 54 42

f/16 54 54 54

f/22 54 54 48

230g

Copal0

116xxxxx

1990's

Rodenstock

APO Sironar S f/5.6

150mm

f/11 7685 43

f/16 76 76 43

f/22 60 60 48

230g

Copal 0

113xxxxx

1990's

Rodenstock

Sironar N f/5.6

150mm

f/11 7657 27

f/16 76 76 30

f/22 60 60 43

200g

Copal 0

103xxxxx

1980's

Schneider

APO Symmar f/5.6

150mm

f/11 5460 54

f/16 60 60 54

f/22 42 42 38

235g

Copal 0

145xxxx8

1990's

Schneider

Symmar-S f/5.6

150mm

f/11 7685 38

f/16 57 60 38

f/22 67 67 48

215g

Copal 0

141xxxxx

1980's

Schneider

G-Claron f/9

150mm

f/11 6743 30

f/16 76 67 38

f/22 60 60 48

130g

Copal 0

142xxxxx

1980's

Schneider

SuperSymmar HM f/5.6

150mm

f/1138 42 38

f/16 76 76 42

f/22 54 54 42

740g

Copal0

1449xxxx

1990's

Schneider

- coating imperfections

Super Symmar HM f/5.6

150mm

f/11 20 30 42

f/16 30 48

48

f/22 42 48 48

740g

Copal 0

143xxxxx

1990's

Schneider

Symmar

Convertable f/5.6

150mm

f/11 4248 38

f/16 42 48 42

f/22 48 64 42

.

Linhof

449xxxx

1950's

Schneider

Symmar

Convertable f/5.6

150mm

single element

at 265mm

f/16 48

48 23

f/22 48 48 33

f/32 42 42 38

.

Linhof

449xxxx

1950's

Schneider

Symmar

Convertable f/5.6

150mm

single element

at 265mm

with #15 yellow

filter

f/16 4848 21

f/22 48 48 32

f/32 30 38 33

.

Linhof

449xxxx

1950's

Schneider

Xenar f/5.6

150mm

f/11 42 54 26

f/16 54 67 24

f/22 67 60 48

170g

Copal 0

14xxxxxx

1990's

Voightlander

APO Lanthar

lite element separation

15cm

f/11 67 67 42

f/16 54 6754

f/22 54 42 42

290g

Linhof Select blackface

6745xxx

1960's

Ilex

Paragon-S f/4.5

163mm

f/11 64 48 21

f/16 34 42 30

f/22 58 54 48

.

Ilex

52xx9

1960's

Schneider

Angulonf/6.8

165mm

f/1154 54 15

f/16 54 54 24

f/22 48 48 34

500g

Copal3

13339xxx

1970's

Schneider

Angulon f/6.8

165mm

f/11 xx xx xx

f/16 54 38

17

f/22 48 42 21

300g

Linhof Select blackface

9031xxx

1960's

180mm thru 270mm

Computar

Symmetrigonf/6.3

180mm

f/11 4233 26

f/16 60 60 33

f/22 54 54 30

386g

Copal 1

74xxx2

1980's

Fuji

A f/9

180mm

f/11 67 76 34

f/16 67 67 42

f/22 60 60 38

190g

Copal 0

28xxxx

1970's

Schneider

Symmar-S/MCf/5.6

180mm

f/1154 54 48

f/16 60 48 42

f/22 54 54 42

450g

Compur1

1410xxxx

1980's

Schneider

Symmar-S f/5.6

(single coated)

180mm

f/11 54 54 60

f/16 85 67 60

f/22 60 54 54

455g

Copal 1

1216xxxx

1970's

Bausch and Lomb

Protar series-V f/18

183mm

f/18 42 38 30

f/22 54 48 42

f/32 42 42 38

.

.

LF3xx5

.

Kodak

Ektar f/7.7

203mm

f/11 60 67 48

f/16 60 6054

f/22 60 60 54

180g

Supermatic

RExxx

1950's

Kodak

Anastigmat/7.7 uncoated

203mm

f/11 4867 54

f/16 67 73 42

f/22 54 60 48

180g

Supermatic

no-ser

1930's

Nikkor

M-series f/8

200mm

f/11 68 76 38

f/16 68 68 34

f/22 60 54 48

180g

Copal 0

200xxx

1980's?

Nikkor

M-series f/8

200mm

f/11 6060 30

f/16 67 60 30

f/22 60 67 54

180g

Copal 0

201xxx

1980's

Computar (Kowa)

f/9 process lens

210mm

f/9 48 3026

f/11 48 38 38

f/16 60 54 48

f/22 48 48 48

<220g

Copal 1

???

1970's

Fuji

L-seriesf/5.6

210mm

f/1154 54 34

f/16 68 60 48

f/22 48 48 42

340g

Copal1

255xxx

1970's

Fuji

L-series f/5.6

210mm

f/11 34 38 34

f/16 54 48 42

f/22 42 48 42

340g

Copal 1

253xxx

1970's

Fuji

W-series f/5.6

210mm

f/11 xx xx xx

f/16 54 48 42

f/22 60 48 48

475g

Copal 1

253xxx

1980's

Nikkor

W-series f/5.6

210mm

f/11 6042 24

f/16 60 60 38

f/22 48 54 54

475g

Copal 1

757xxx

1980's

Rodenstock

APOSironar-S f/5.6

210mm

f/1168 60 38

f/16 76 54 54

f/22 60 54 54

465g

Copal1

11589xx1

1990's

Rodenstock

APO Sironar-S f/5.6

210mm

f/11 54 38 48

f/16 76 48 54

f/22 60 48 54

465g

Copal 1

11589xx0

1990's

Rodenstock

SironarN f/5.6

210mm

f/11 4854 42

f/16 42 42 38

f/22 34 34 34

415g

Copal 1

103xxxx1

1980's

Schneider

Symmar APO f/5.6

210mm

f/11 7676 60

f/16 67 67 54

f/22 60 60 54

475g

Copal 1

143xxxxx

1990's

Fuji

A-series f/9

240mm

f/11 54 38 34

f/16 68 6054

f/22 60 60 60

245g

Copal 0

5xxxxx

1990's

Fuji

A-series f/9

240mm

f/11 6054 48

f/16 76 60 48

f/22 60 67 60

245g

Copal 0

522xxx

1990's

Rodenstock

APORonar f/9

240mm

f/1176 68 38

f/16 68 48 54

f/22 60 42 48

355g

Copal0?

10526xxx

1970's

Goerz

Red Dot Artar f/9

9.5 inch

f/11 54 38 24

f/16 60 54 24

f/22 60 60 42

185g

Compur 1

838xxx

1960's

Schneider

Linhof TeleArtonf/5.6

250mm

f/11 xx xx xx

f/16 54 60 54

f/22 54 60 54

820g

Prontor-Pro #1

14,076,xxx

1984

Ilex

Paragon f/6.3

254mm

f/11 2642 30

f/16 48 48 42

f/22 54 54 54

.

Ilex #2

1xx2

1950's

Rodenstock

TeleOptar

f/6.5

270mm

f/11 4848 30

f/16 48 38 34

f/22 42 33 30

900g

Copal 0

469xxx6

1970's

Rodenstock

TeleRotelarf/6.5

270mm

f/11 21

21 21

f/16 38 42 19

f/22 42 33 33

940g

Copal 0

491xxx2

1970's

300mm and longer

Doktor

Tessarf/5.6

300mm

f/1138 34 27

f/16 54 48 48

f/22 60 42 54

745g

Copal3

10xx

.

Nikon

M f/9

300mm

f/11 6767 47

f/16 48 42 42

f/22 42 42 42

270g

Copal 1

75xxx6

1980's

Nikon

M f/9

300mm

f/11 48 4848

f/16 48 48 48

f/22 54 54 54

270g

Copal 1

75xxx2

1980's

Fuji

Fujinon-T f/8

300mm

f/11 54 38 38

f/16 54 42 38

f/22 54 48 38

415g

Copal 0

70xxxx

1990's

Fuji

Fujinon-W f/5.6

300mm

f/11 38 48 42

f/16 48 54 48

f/22 48 54 48

1100g

Copal #3

272xxx

1980's

Schneider

G-Claron f/9

305mm

f/16 67 67 54

f/22 54 60 54

.

Copal 1

.

1989

Goerz

L.D.Artar f/9

14inch

f/11 19 15 10

f/16 38 38 21

f/22 48 48 30f/11 42 34 26

f/16 54 42 33

f/22 xx xx xx

315g

Compur #2

837xxx

.

Goerz

L.D.Artar f/9

14inch

f/11 48 48 24

f/16 48 60 42

f/22 48 54 48

565g

Copal #3S

front mounted

837xxx

.

Fuji

A-series f/10

360mm

f/11 48 48 42

f/16 54 48 42

f/22 48 48 48

475g

Copal 1

521xxx

1980's

Nikon

T-ED f/8

360mm

f/11 42 42 42

f/16 54 60 54

f/22 54 54 54

.

Copal 1

52xxx6

1980's

Schneider

Tele Xenar Compact

400mm

f/11 50 50 42

f/16 50 42 50

f/22 50 42 50

870g

Copal 3

xxx

200x

Fuji

C-seriesf/12.5

450mm

f/16 54 54 54

f/22 54 54 54

f/32 38 33 38

285g

Copal 1

640xx0

1990's

Fuji

C-series f/12.5

450mm

f/12.5 48 48 24

f/16 48 48 34

f/22 48 48 34

f/32 42 48 34

285g

Copal 1

640xxx

1990's

Nikon

T-ED f/11

500mm

f/16 19

19 19

f/22 42 38 33

f/32 42 42 42

185g rear elementweight

Copal 1

18xxx0

1980's

Nikon

T-ED f/16

720mm

f/22 38 42 38

f/32 34 34

34

f/45 30 26 30

150g rear element weight

Copal 1

200xxx

1980's

Please NOTE:

This is at best a relative (not absolute)comparison between these lenses. Kerry and I are simply looking for the Pickof the Litter.

Here is resolution data of a Kodak 203mm f/7.7 Ektar,measured in the film plane with an eyepiece. (Thanks, Bill F., forlending it!) This is a very good lens, usually at a modest used price.Corners for this lens are at 21 degrees for 4x5 and 27 degrees for 5x7.Angles here are half-field angles-- angle from the optical axis. Noticethat you need to be a little careful in using this one for 5x7 if youwant the corners sharp.

1 comment:

Christopher,Found your site interesting. I was looking for some advice on a large format lens to use on a 6x17 camera I am building. I thought you would have some suggestions. I would be taking this hiking so light weight is important.

Background

Christopher
Mark Perez is a retired software engineering program manager,
specializing in uncovering the most interesting experiences life can
offer while living with his lovely wife, Judith, in Paris, France.
When seeking relief from the long and arduous task of retirement,
this American ex-patriot haunts the edges of ancient philosophies,
rich cultures, and fascinating societies to express and share images
as art by avidly pursuing photography. He occasionally stands-in as
a photo-educator at a local Anglophone society, too. Spicy, flavored
and strongly favored image making themes include thickly textured,
darkly rich Noir Victorian Gothic, Dark Romanticism, Rococco and
Steampunk, Tribal Fusion Bellydance subjects.